The first impression of the draft Ngauranga – Airport Draft plan is that it isn’t so much a “plan” as a statement of intent. The document states that it is a consultation, and appears to offer the chance for the public to make submissions, but in fact it is stating what appears to have already been decided by the City Council.
This impression could be mistaken, but the format of the document doesn’t easily lend itself to the idea of consultation, and is more akin to a publicity exercise. There are no options presented to the reader for example, and instead we’re given a set of intentions that may or may not be implemented over a 10-year period.
I need to scratch a little deeper, for instance reading the Urban Development Strategy and the Regional Strategy, which will hopefully reveal a little more of the justifications for the choices the Council has already decided on is putting forward in their ‘draft plan’, and hopefully illuminate how and why particular decisions are being made.
After reading this slim document all I’m left with is the feeling that their is a very general intention to develop inner-city Wellington, but that no-one is actually sure how. The options for transport are a dog’s breakfast, and although the greater weight of submissions in a previous process were in favour of light rail as a public transport solution (which implies they would be at very least willing to utilise the service, if not actively support it), the paper dismisses it out of hand as prohibitively expensive. But, digging in a little further we find that costings for light rail are hidden on the very last page. And, they are $35million cheaper than what seems to be the preferred option to improve the corridor in question, a second Mt Vic tunnel…
As I say, this is a set of first impressions. But the first impression is very bad. Options that involve high-fossil fuel use, including diesel buses and public transport, as clearly given priority, while options that could make Wellington an eminently liveable city (walking and cycling) are uncosted within the plan and clearly not considered important. The “urban corridor” is poorly conceived, and seems to be a matter of convenience in “planning” as opposed to an objective. While the document states that there is expected to be considerable growth along the corridor, how good transport will complement this growth is not apparent, except the ensure that everything is lovely and convenient at clear bottlenecks like SUV central outside the gates of Government House at the end of school.
The two things I did find interesting was the statement that integrated ticketing would be available by 2011, and that dedicated bus laneways would be created. I’d love to know people’s opinion on that, because it would be the only things in this plan that might actually encourage people out of their private transport. That in turn would have them increasing their walking in the city, which in turn might increase patronage of the shops.
Seriously, who notices the details of retail outlets when they’re driving past at 30km/hr, not me.
I’ll put in some decent reading and get back to you.
23 June, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hi Che – glad that you’re writing about this. The strategy went out for consultation from Dec 07 to Feb 08 (I downloaded it here in London – how dedicated is that?!), so the document you’re reading – which I’ve not examined yet – is presumably the next step in the process.
It’s certainly a pity if light rail doesn’t make it through the decision-making process, but I can see why it mightn’t. The existing rail network and its associated infrastructure will cost so much to maintain over the coming years that I doubt there’s the political will for new, additional spending on a light rail revamp. The rating base is just too small for that sort of endeavour, I think (Although I’d be happy to be proved wrong on that one! Light rail is cool.)
While I agree with you that action to minimise Wellington’s carbon footprint and make the city a more liveable place is really important, the fact remains that thousands of the city’s workforce live outside walking and cycling range, and while it’s lucky that a decent number of them can use the trains (and a few ferries) to get in, many of them will rely on the roads. They need to be shoehorned in effectively somehow – and the realignment of the motorway access to the Basin has shown that it’s possible to mess things up if the planners aren’t careful…
29 July, 2008 at 9:18 pm
[...] those submissions predominantly favoured light rail and other forms of public transport. But as Object Dart reports, it didn’t quite work out that way: The options for transport are a dog’s [...]
17 June, 2009 at 12:24 am
It is sad that our transport experts are placing high importance on building road projects along this corridor. Light rail would be important to the south eastern suburbs of Wellington. This service would link important facilities such as….
Airport
New Indoor Sports Arena
Hospital
Basin Reserve
Central City
Railway Station
These are some of the most important facilities Wellington has in terms of employment and events. I guess we are missing out on not only a good light rail system, but the potential for high quality development to occur around their stations.
Well the road lobby is winning the battle currently, but this issue may still not be over yet with strong opposition to the Basin Flyover project. I believe the Basin Flyover will become a major issue in the build up to the 2010 local elections. These options are far to futuristic for Wellington, but a reality in the U.S.A and Europe. Somebody save us !!!